Inside the room, Sang Sang felt her face flush with heat, overwhelmed by shame and embarrassment, as if her entire body were about to burst into flames.
Would her benefactor think her behavior was brazen, that she was deliberately trying to seduce him?
Would he become angry because of this and drive her out?
The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. Just then, a steady knocking sound came from outside the door, making Sang Sang even more nervous. Yet, she dared not refuse to open it.
This time, she carefully adjusted her clothes, making sure everything was tightly covered and nothing was amiss before she opened the door.
With her head lowered like a timid young bride, she spoke softly, “Benefactor, just now, I wasn’t…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Shen Yan interrupted her.
“Change into this.”
He tossed a piece of clothing over her head, covering her completely. Flustered, she pulled it off, but Shen Yan had already turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Sang Sang looked at the slightly worn floral dress in her hands and belatedly realized that he had gone to borrow clothes for her.
Suppressing her embarrassment, Sang Sang changed into the outfit Shen Yan had borrowed for her.
The waist was too loose, while the chest area was too tight, making her uncomfortable. The skirt was also a bit too short, so it didn’t fit well.
But since her benefactor had specifically borrowed it for her, she was willing to wear it even if it wasn’t a perfect fit.
There had been too many awkward moments today. After taking some time to calm and compose herself, Sang Sang finally mustered the courage to open the door and step outside.
Shen Yan turned his head and saw her new attire. His eyes darkened abruptly.
Her figure was slender, with a delicate waist, but elsewhere, it was full and striking. The slightly faded floral pattern on the dress seemed to come alive, as if bursting forth.
If his earlier glimpse had been fleeting, this outfit now filled in all the details he hadn’t fully seen before.
Shen Yan’s gaze lingered for a moment before he quickly looked away, his voice cold and commanding, “Change back!”
Hearing this, Sang Sang was instantly filled with confusion and disbelief.
“Why?”
She had just changed into this outfit, and after only one glance, he wanted her to change back. Could it be that she looked ugly in it?
She looked at Shen Yan, her eyes tinged with a hint of grievance. But Shen Yan didn’t look at her at all, or rather, he deliberately avoided doing so.
He said sternly, “Just change when I tell you to. No more questions!”
Sang Sang replied softly, “Oh…”
Her voice trailed off pitifully.
Shen Yan glanced back and saw her walking away with her head lowered, her dejected figure looking utterly crestfallen.
It wasn’t hard to imagine how disappointed her face must be at that moment.
For some inexplicable reason, Shen Yan felt even more restless and irritable.
Fine, he thought. Tomorrow, he’d go to town and buy her a couple of outfits. It wouldn’t cost much anyway.
Sang Sang changed back into Shen Yan’s loose-fitting clothes, tightening and tying them securely to cover everything properly.
Shen Yan glanced at her and found this much more pleasing to the eye.
Just then, a series of loud banging sounds came from outside the courtyard gate—more like pounding than knocking.
Someone had arrived.
Soon, the visitors barged in uninvited. Their footsteps were noisy, and it was clear they hadn’t come alone.
Before anyone appeared, a somewhat aged male voice rang out first, “Shen Yan! Where are you? Get out here!”
Hearing this voice, Sang Sang immediately knew the visitor meant trouble. She instinctively looked at Shen Yan and saw his eyes darken abruptly, as if a heavy, oppressive aura had enveloped his entire being.
A group of six men, both old and young, stood before them.
From them, Sang Sang sensed deep hostility.
Because her face was covered with a cloth, she felt somewhat safer.
As soon as the group saw Sang Sang, their eyes fixed on her, filled with blatant curiosity and scrutiny.
Especially the gray-clad elder at the front—the way he looked at her made Sang Sang feel like a piece of merchandise being appraised.
Almost instinctively, she hid behind Shen Yan, as only this made her feel more secure.
Shen Yan swept his gaze over the group, his tone icy and indifferent.
“What are you doing at my home?”
The gray-clad elder immediately erupted in anger, “You unfilial son! I am your father! How dare you speak to your elders like that?”
Sang Sang was startled upon hearing this—this was actually her benefactor’s father?
Shen Yan let out a derisive snort from his nose, “Sorry, I have no father, no mother, no relatives, no family.”
Hearing this, Shen Dazhu grew even more furious, his thin face trembling violently.
He was about to unleash another tirade when a scholarly-looking man behind him stopped him.
That man appeared refined and gentle, and his tone was much milder.
He said to Shen Yan, “Cousin, we came because we heard you spent five taels of silver in town to buy a woman. We didn’t quite believe it at first, but now it seems it’s true. We never thought you…”
Shen Yan coldly interrupted him, “State your business or get lost.”
Shen Jun was choked by his words, and the gentle expression on his face froze slightly.
Seeing this, Shen Dazhu’s explosive temper ignited once more.
“What kind of attitude is this? You actually spent so much silver on a woman—you must be bewitched!
That’s five taels of silver! Not five copper coins! How could you be so wasteful?”
“You should tie her up right now and sell her in town. Even if you can’t get back the full five taels, at least recover as much as possible.
Coincidentally, Jun’er’s tuition for the academy is due next month. As his elder cousin, you should contribute.”
“And also, Lan’er’s wedding date has been set. You ought to add more to her dowry.”
The “Jun’er” he mentioned was naturally Shen Jun, who was standing beside him.
He studied at the academy in town—no one knew how well he was doing, but his tuition was demanded diligently every month.
As for “Lan’er,” she was Shen Jun’s younger sister, Shen Lan.
In an instant, Sang Sang felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss, her hands and feet turning cold.
Had she just escaped the tiger’s den, only to fall into the wolf’s lair?
Instinctively, she grabbed Shen Yan’s arm, her slender fingers gripping tightly, her voice trembling slightly.
“Benefactor, I… I don’t want to be sold… Please, don’t sell me…”
Shen Yan lowered his gaze, his eyes resting on her hand tightly clutching his arm.
He said calmly, “Who said I was going to sell you?”
“But they…”
Shen Yan scoffed, “They are them, I am me. With me here, who dares to lay a finger on you?”
His words were directed at Sang Sang, but also at everyone else.
To Sang Sang, they were reassurance; to the others, they were a blatant warning.
Upon hearing this, Sang Sang’s eyes instantly sparkled. The panic and fear that had gripped her heart vanished in an instant, replaced by complete relaxation and a sense of security.
She knew it—her benefactor would never sell her out!
Her intuition was never wrong; her benefactor was truly a good person!
Shen Dazhu snapped back to reality, feeling deeply challenged in his paternal authority. He was so furious he nearly jumped up.
“You dare defy me?”
Only then did Shen Yan turn his gaze back to him, his expression calm. “Why wouldn’t I dare?”
“You, you… Jun’er, all of you, go and tie her up for me!”
Shen Yan said coldly, “She is mine. Who dares to touch her?”